Portland is known for a lot of things. It’s known for its hipster culture, its dedication to being weird… and then there are all those Portland donuts. They really love their donuts (and so do visitors to the city). Portlanders also love their food, which is certainly something I can appreciate. And so, before we went ghost hunting on the Oregon Coast, we explored the foodie scene in Portland, Oregon. Here’s what we found.
Voodoo Doughnut (Downtown)
For years, everyone told me I had to visit Voodoo Doughnut. The signature pink boxes, the 60+ over-the-top (literally) creations, the ridiculous sugar rush. Yes, I even wrote a sonnet about the place after visiting. (There’s also Voodoo Doughnut, Too! in Kerns on the other side of the water.)
Here’s my take on these Portland donuts: the doughnuts themselves are relatively fluffy and airy (and already on the sweeter side). The toppings are outlandishly outrageous, if that’s your sort of thing, including crushed Oreo cookies, a variety of breakfast cereals, and plenty of frosting. It’s indulgent and fun and weird; that’s just the Portland way.
Address: 22 SW 3rd Ave, Portland, OR 97204, USA
Blue Star Donuts (Multiple Locations)
If you’re looking for a completely different take on Portland donuts (note the difference in spelling as well), you should check out Blue Star. There are several locations around Portland; we went to the one downtown since we were checking out Powell’s City of Books too.
In many ways, you could say that Blue Star is the anti-Voodoo. Indeed, they take several not-so-thinly veiled jabs at Voodoo. On their walls, Blue Star proudly proclaims they offer donuts for grownups, and that they value quality over quantity. Instead of 60+ varieties, you choose from about a half dozen at a time.
Think of Blue Star more as the upscale hipster cousin (with higher prices to match). You’ll get more “blueberry bourbon basil” and “Mexican hot chocolate,” less “Froot Loops” and “mini M&M’s”… and in a denser donut.
Address: 1155 SW Morrison St #102, Portland, OR 97205, USA
Elmer’s Restaurant (Multiple Locations)
There’s nothing quite like a hearty diner breakfast. As far as we can tell, Elmer’s is a chain restaurant; we went to the one in Parkrose near the airport and Cascade Station. In addition to your usual diner classics, you also get to choose less common options like baked German pancakes.
I opted for the bacon and Tillamook potato cakes and eggs, served smokehouse bacon, two farm fresh eggs, and apple sauce. And they’ve got breakfast all day too.
Address: 10001 NE Sandy Blvd, Portland, OR 97220, USA
Pok Pok (Richmond)
Living in Vancouver, we’re spoiled with an embarrassment of riches when it comes to affordable, high quality Asian cuisine. As a result, I almost dismissed Pok Pok as no big deal, since we have plenty of Thai restaurants back in Vancouver. And I was wrong. It totally lives up to the hype.
Pok Pok offers a number of unique, creative takes on Thai cuisine that are legitimately good. They’re not different just to be different; they’re tasty. The signature kai yaang (roasted chicken) is great with sticky rice; the green papaya salad is deceptively very spicy; and the kaeng hang leh (pork belly and pork shoulder curry) is rich, complex, and oh so satisfying.
Address: 3226 SE Division St, Portland, OR 97202, USA
Famous Dave’s BBQ (Cascade Station)
As we were staying in the area and had to wait for an appointment, our dining options at Cascade Station weren’t the most exciting. The barbecue at Famous Dave’s seems to draw an older crowd, at least during lunch. The dinner platters are too substantial for noon, which is why we were happy to find the lunch specials.
Choose one or two mains to go with your choice of side dish. That’s Georgia chopped (not pulled) pork at the top with grilled pineapple. And in the lower picture, you see catfish fingers and Texas beef brisket with creamy coleslaw. Both came with a cornbread muffin. Not bad.
Address: 9911 NE Cascades Pkwy, Portland, OR 97220, USA
Nong’s Khao Man Gai (Old Town)
Beyond Voodoo and Pok Pok, the other big name that keeps coming up on just about every Portland food and restaurant list is Nong’s Khao Man Gai. What started out as a humble food cart has expanded into a Portland institution.
The eponymous chicken rice comes wrapped in butcher paper, so you don’t get an actual “plate” necessarily. I’ve had some great Hainanese chicken rice before and Nong’s holds its own without really standing way above the pack. I was a little disappointed they ran out of fried chicken skin; the chicken liver was okay though.
Address: 417 SW 13th Ave, Portland, OR 97205, USA
Salt & Straw (Multiple Locations)
“But I want dessert,” exclaimed my four-year-old. And who am I to deny her an after-dinner treat while on vacation. So, we visited the Salt & Straw in Richmond, about a block away from Pok Pok. It’s supposed to be the best ice cream in Portland.
And while they have some more unique flavors like India Pale Ale, Arbequina Olive Oil, and Pear and Blue Cheese, we ultimately went with chocolate. Because that’s what the four-year-old wanted. Imagine our surprise when we went to pay for the kid’s cone and the cashier told us it was “already taken care of.” Portland is a very nice city.
Address: 3345 SE Division St, Portland, OR 97202, USA
Stumptown Coffee Roasters (Multiple Locations)
If there is any one thing that defines the hipster lifestyle, aside from arthouse cinema and indie music, it’s a dedication to exceptional coffee. And, if you know me, you’ll know that I like a good cup of coffee. We went to the Stumptown location just outside of Chinatown; there are several around town.
In addition to picking up some beans for enjoyment at home, we picked up some cold brew on tap. Yes, it’s good — crisp and bold without the bitterness and acidity of “regular” joe — and I’d hold it to the same esteem as some of the best in Vancouver.
Address: 128 SW 3rd Ave, Portland, OR 97204, USA
Always More to Eat in Portland
Okay, I know what you’re thinking. We went all the way to Portland, I wrote a post on Portland donuts and the Portland foodie scene, and we didn’t even check out the food trucks. It’s true, the food carts are everywhere and they really are the stuff of legend. All this means is that we definitely need to go back.
And in case you missed it, be sure to check out my videos featuring the Aloft Portland Airport at Cascade Station, as well as the Zooliner train at the Oregon Zoo. Those videos will give you another “taste” of our road trip experience.
Where’s your favorite place to eat in Portland? Are you team Voodoo or team Blue Star for donuts? Or somewhere else entirely?
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